Pirelli is preparing to gradually return to activity from May 4 with a plan aimed at ensuring maximum protection of employee health and safety in the workplace, priority objectives since the beginning of the Covid-19 emergency. Pirelli, in order to guarantee adequate protection from the risk of contagion from Covid-19, has also started a collaboration relationship with the University of Milan - Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, directed by Professor Massimo Galli, aimed at verifying, according to scientific criteria, the consistency of its adopted operating procedures and at defining a health protocol with serological screening tests aimed, for preventive purposes, at its staff.
The restart of industrial activities from 4 May will take place gradually: in the Settimo Torinese plant, production levels will be reduced in consideration of the lower demand. At the Bollate site – a plant that will focus on the Velo business – during the month of May only essential activities will resume with an extremely reduced presence. The production of masks will also be subsequently implemented in Bollate, exclusively intended for employees and their families, thus making it possible to eliminate the potential risks of discontinuity in the supply by third parties and the consequent suspension of industrial activities.
The recovery plan provides for stringent HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) procedures:
- in factories constant sanitization of the rooms is envisaged, the mandatory use of masks, automatic detection of temperature (also with thermoscanners), reduced attendance shifts and adequate management of the distancing of incoming/outgoing flows and common areas (canteen, breaks, changing rooms, etc.). An analysis of the risk of each workstation and of the different types of job also makes it possible to identify the possible use of additional protective equipment (PPE). All sites have special emergency procedures to be activated in the event of suspected cases of Covid-19;
- In the Milan Bicocca Headquarters and more generally in the offices, in addition to the application of the measures described above, the continuation of smartworking will be encouraged to allow for a reduced presence of employees, also by resorting to their shifts. For remote workers, a set of rules and recommendations to follow for effective smartworking and for the best use of the digital platforms available has already been drawn up in recent weeks. In Italy, in particular, the guidelines of the plan have already been shared with the trade union organizations and integrate, reinforcing them, the various measures defined with the national protocols signed between trade union organizations and employers' associations.
The plan provides an articulated program of information and training: information material containing the behavioral and hygienic-sanitary rules to be followed in the company will also be distributed to all employees, together with the protection kits. Furthermore, all personnel will be required to undergo mandatory training on risk awareness and knowledge of the measures, procedures and behaviors to adopt.
In order to facilitate the return of employees to the company and contribute to their psychophysical well-being, as part of the various welfare services already available, Pirelli has also activated an offer of 'Mindfulness' courses, including digital ones, partly launched in the period lockdown with conferences by specialists in the field. This offer complements yoga classes, meditation and health advice by the medical specialists of the Outpatient Clinic of the Bicocca Headquarters. Again in the area of welfare and HSE services, in recent weeks Pirelli had already delivered sets of masks to all employees in Italy to carry out their daily activities in safety. Daily "edutainment" activities will be organized for school-age children of employees (kindergartens and primary schools) to ensure quality educational and entertainment opportunities for children, allowing parents to carry out smartworking activities in greater serenity.
The Stock Exchange has welcomed this plan for the restart, with the Pirelli stock making its mark on Thursday among the few with a positive sign, in contrast with the Milanese Ftse Mib index down by more than 2 percentage points.
